Ether-administering appliance



0. K. TETER. ETHER ADMINISTERING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13' 1912.

1,362,201, Patented Dec.14,1920.

4T6. WW

UNITED STATES Pa sNT OFFICE.

CHARLES K. TETER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 TIE-IE TETER MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION 015 01-310.

ETHER-ADMINISTERING APPLIANCE.

Application filed December 13, 1912.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES K. TETER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in flier-Administering Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ether administering appliances, and more particularly to such an appliance which is adapted to be used in association with apparatus for administering gaseous anesthetics or mixtures of such gases, whereby definite controllable percentages may be given by the operative. The object of my invention is to provide means for accurately controlling the proportion and rate of administration of the different anesthetics, with the least attention possible on the part of the operative.

In my Patent No. 883,987, granted Apr. 7th, 1908, I have shown means for accomplishing the same general results now sought to be attained, but the apparatus therein shown requires a considerable degree of technical skill, and close attention on the part of the operative, at all times during the administration oi the anesthetice. I may briefly refer to the apparatus shown and described therein, by stating that it consists of suitable means for administering two such gases as oxygen and nitrousoxid in suitable proportions, with which is mixed ether vapors for inducing deeper anesthesia. The different proportions of the gaseous and vaporized reagents, are controlled by a series of successively operated valves, as fully explained in said patent. The apparatus of my invention relieves the operative of numerous adjustments, and insures the administration of known indicated percentages of the anesthetics, while permitting said operative to give his closest attention to the condition of the patient.

The structural features of my improvement may best be explained, by making reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I, is a plan view of the controlling and mixing apparatus for the gases, associated with a vapor warmer and ether administering appliance, pursuant to the principles of my present invention.

Fig. II, is an enlarged side elevation of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

Serial No. 736,632. i

right angles to the former, on line VI-VIY of Fig. III.

Fig. VII, is an enlarged detail of a modified form of valve-adjusting and operating mechanism, and

Fi g. VIII, is a detail thereof, showing the operating gear.

Throughout the different figures of the drawings, I have employed the same character of reference to indicate similar parts.

By referring to my above mentioned patent, identification of the different components of my improved a paratus will be greatly facilitated. Fig. of tlie present drawings illustrates two sets of flasks a a, Z) Z), respectively containing oxygen and nitrous-oxid under high pressure. These are removably mounted upon the mixing head 0", and the flow of gases therein is gov erned by the controlling and reducing valves 0, (Z, and 0 cl. Accordingly, they will be supplied to the mixing chamber 6 in the desired proportion, from which they pass through the vapor warmer 7, and administering appliance g, to the ducts g g or either of them, which are respectively connected with the nasal-inhaler and mouth tube, (not shown), whereby the anesthetics are directly administered to the patient.

An other jar 9 (shown as broken away), is screwed below the valve mechanism, which governs the flow of gaseous reagents, and permits their admixture with the ether vapors in the percentages required. Accordingly, the adjacent vapor-warmer f, for safety, may be electrically heated. The cap of the ether jar comprises a multi-chambered member, whose passages are controlled by three separate valves, also governing the circulation through the ether jar and the exits to the administering apparatus for the patient. Fig. III, best shows the chambered casing h, wherein the conical, rotatable valves 2', 2" and i are seated. Chamber it connected with the vaporwarnier, communicates with chamber ,h"

tion of the valves 71 and z".

municates with chamber h through its port 2' when rotated into alinement with the communicating opening in the casing. Chambers/t and h merge or communicate beneath valve 2', which is open-bottomed in order to permit the flow of gas from either or both of said chambers,and direct it. to the appropriate duct or ducts. From this general explanatiom'it will be understood that all gases flowing through chamber 72 will remain unmixed with the ether vapors, while all gases flowing through chamber 72, must first pass through the ether jar, and accordingly the proportionate. flow of the gases through these two chambers, will govern the 'percentageof ether administered.

With these general featuresin mind, I maygnow explain the manner in which the valves are "concurrently or separately controlled, for 'the'purpose of administering anesthetics, in accordance with the varying needs of the patient.

The thumb-nut 7c is connected by stem is and its gear is". with the meshing gear 1, controlling valve i. Thus the thumb-nut is rotatable for the purpose of independentlycontrolling the flow of gases through the ducts g g,. A stationary pointer or indicator m is provided for the purpose of designating the position in which the valve 2' is disposed, whereby either the duct 9 org" may be supplied with gas or entirely cut" off' therefrom, or both may receive an equal supply. The sleeve 12 is provided with a larger indicator or pointer a and a handle a, whereby the sleeve and its connected gears and valves may be rotated.

The graduated scale a upon the top of the casing is calibrated to show the percentage of ether administered in the various positions of said pointer and connected valves.

The sleeve n is provided with the gear 0 turning independently of the stem is; said gear meshing with the valve gears 0 0, which in turn respectively control the posi- Thus the said valves may be rotated in unison and in the same direction, for the purpose of controlling the flow of gases through the ether ar. 1 Inasmuch'as ether is highly volatile it is desirable that the 'valves shall beheld in mixed with ether.

'ing to the inhaler apparatus.

sealed relation within their conical seats. Accordingly, each valve .stem'is provided with a set screw 2?, bearing vertically thereon, through an intermediate washer p,

and a lock-nut? is provided for each The actuatin ear wheel as Z' is rovide'd with a radial slot 0 into which extends the pin 8, provided upon the valve part 2'. Thus the valve part will be closely and accurately seated within its conical recess, and although controllable by its actuating gear, these parts do not require the same exactness in construction or mounting, be-

ause of the accommodation provided for in the slotted connection between theparts. It will be understood that the other rotatable valves may be similarly provided with the spring adjustment, and slotted actuating gear, just described.

The apparatus being assembled as shown and described, the desired current of nitrousoxid and oxygen, mixed in the proportions required,is first insured by opening and ad justing thevalves c d, c d. The vapor warmer, of any approved type, is also placed in operation, and with the valve parts rotated to the positions indicated in Fig. '3, this anesthetizing mixture will be available through both ofducts g g, un- V The rotation of the thumb-nut is will direct the flow through one or the other of these "ducts, as required; the position of the valve being shown by the indicator, and the initial flow of gases being shown by the arrows. Assuming that five per cent. of ether is d esirechhandle n is rotated to sweep its indicator over five d1- vlslonsf of the graduated scale, thereby turning valves 2' z" in acounter-clockwise direction partially to open the respective ports i and i Although the volume of the nitrous-oxid mixture will still flow through the port 2' and chamber it, part of said mixture will be directed down through the ether jar, and up through valve 2', as indie cated by the arrow in Fig. VI. From thence, this portion of the ether charged reagent will fiow through chamber h and valve 71 to the connected duct or ducts lead- Obviously, by rotating the handle a still farther, and with it the valvesz' i, still larger percentages of ether may be administered until the maximum chargedfmixture is obtained, when ports'z' and 2*respect1vely register with the openings to chamber h and k. Under these conditions all of the nitrousoxid mixture is directed through the ether jar, and under conditions of normal flow, approximately twenty per cent. of ether will be administered to the patient. The vapor warmer, through which the gases pass, serves to raise the temperature of the normally chilled nitrous-oxid, so that it is capable of taking up a relatively large pro portion of the ether vapors.

In the event that ether alone is to be administered, the controlling valves 0 0' may be closed, and an air valve 1;, opening into the mixing chamber, is thrown open for permitting the patient to breathe warm air mixed with the ether vapors, directly through the gas-supply line. Of course, the oxygen remains always available by means of its independently actuated valves, for the purpose of reviving or stimulatin the patient, whenever the need arises. t will be understood that the vapor warmer is utilized to afford a supply of gas or gaseous-medium at the desired temperature, whereby the administration of ether vapors may be definitely gaged, irrespective of the initial temperature of the gas or gases, or of the anesthetizing-room. In addition, the interconnected valves permit the gases to be directed through the ether jar in varying regulated proportions, so that such varying proportions of said gas or gases may become saturated with the ether vapors, and thereby permit the accurate control of administration of that anesthetic.

From a consideration of the foregoing, it will be readily appreciated 110w simply the anesthetization of the patient may be effected and controlled. The operative employing my improved apparatus is required to adjust merely two regulating parts, viz,

the thumb-nut la and the handle a in order to effect absolute control of theanesthetizing reagents, as above described. This simplicity of automatic-operation for the various valve ports is peculiarly important in view of the frequent emergencles arising.

during the administration of. anesthetics.

Thus, if complete or continued relaxation of the patient is not obtainable with the heated nitrous oxid mixture, the ether supply in any desired percentage is at once available for superinducing complete anesthesia, merely by rotating the indicator to y the proper position. Moreover, the associated nasaleinhaier and the mouth tube may alternatively be employed, or both may be brought into service at once, the instant they may be required.

Although I have shown separate 'means for heating the gases supplied to the ether,

jar, other means than the connected vapor warmer obviously may be employed for securing the desired volatilization of, this.

anesthetic. Again, certain specific features of valve construction and connecting mechanism therefor, have been explicitly described above, but my invention is not necessarily restricted thereto, and accordingly, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following l. In apparatus for administering known percentages of ether and a gaseous anesthetic, the combination with controllable means for supplying a definite current of such gaseous anesthetic, of a warming device, an ether receptacle, an adjustable controlling appliance associated therewith, adapted to divert known volumes through said ether appliance, and an indicator for designating the percentage of ether administered under different conditions of adjustment substantially as set forth.

2. In apparatus for administering known percentages of ether and a gaseous anes thetic, the combination with controllable means for supplying a constant current of such gaseous anesthetic, of a warming device, an ether receptacle, an adjustable controlling appliance associated therewith, comprising a plurality of valves governing the flow of said gaseous anesthetic to the ether receptacle,.and to the administering apparatus, interconnecting operating mechanism for said valves, and an indicator associated therewith for designating the percentage of ether, being administered, substantially as set forth.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with controllable means for supplying a current of suitable gaseous anesthetic, of a safety warming device for such anesthetic, an ether receptacle, an adjustable controlling appliance associated therewith, comprising a plurality of valves governing the flow of said gaseous anesthetic to the ether receptacle, and to the administering apparatus, interconnecting operating mechanism for said valves, and an indicator associated therewith for designating the percentage of ether being administered, substantially as set forth.

4:- In apparatus for administering known percentagesof a volatile anesthetic mixed with a gaseous anesthetic, the combination with controllable means for supplying a current of such gaseous anesthetic, of a receptacle for the volatile anesthetic, a safety warming appliance, an adjustable controlling mechanism for regulating the flow of the gaseous and volatile anesthetics to ad ministering apparatus, and an associated indicator adapted to designate the proportionate mixture of said anesthetics, substantially asset forth.

5.. In a controlling apparatus for volatile liquids, the combination with a receptacle for such liquid, of an associated valve mechanism comprising two interconnected valves controlling the access to said "receptacle,-an additional valve controlling the eXit-"from' said receptacle, and indicating devices respectively associated with said valves, substantially as set forth.

6. In apparatus of sure-member therefor, associated regulatingmechanism comprising two interconnected rotatable valves governing the access to said receptacle, means for supplying a gaseousmedium to said ether jar at an elevated tem perature, and an indicator adapted to desi nate the position of the valves, substantially;

as set forth.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination with a container for a vaporizlng anesthetic maintalned at substantially normal temperatures, of a gas supply "line, an indicator device associated therewith, a

coordinated valve mechanism governing said container, adapted entirely to cut off or to administer through the gas supply, varying positively indicated proportions'of the anesthetic, and means for heating the gas supply substantially to increase the saturation, substantially as set forth.-

8. In apparatus for administering mixtures of anesthetizing reagents, the combination with separate supplies of gaseous and' vaporous reagents, of a heating device for maintaining the gaseous reagent at 'an' are ether jar, a percentage indi'cator', and ,actu-f ati g means for 'sa drmter-connected valves; .65

substantially as setforthi vated temperature, associated valve 'mechanism adapted alternatively to secure the administration of the gaseous or vaporous-reagent alone, or both in predetermined mixture, a percentage indicator provided uponthe valve mechanism, and an adjustable air valve connected to-permit the entrance of air to the heating device, substantially as set forth.

9. In apparatus of the class described,'fthef combination with an etherjar'approximately at normal or atmospheric temperature, of means for supplying a gas theretoat a temperaturematerially higher than that of said ether j ar, and controlling valve mechanism comprising connected ad ustable valve parts adaptedto pass'the gas in definite varying proportions above and directly through flthe ether jar, and indicating mechanism associ ated therewith, whereby definite known percentages of ethermay be administered,'sub-V stantially asset forth. 10. In apparatus of the combination with an ether jar,'oi" a gas supply line, and means for maintaining the gas at an elevatedtemperature,-and valve mechanism associated with the ether jar, f

comprising inter connected valves respec tively controlling the direct flow of gas and the complemental flow of-gas through the the class described, the combination withan ether jar of a clo the class described,

enter-said vaporizing chamber,- andan indi 11. Apparatus for administering vapor having therein a delivery tube, a vaporizing chamber-adapted to contain a volatile liquid, and passages for dividing and for delivering a current of gas containing oxygen respectively' to said delivery tube directly and to said vaporizing chamberandthence to said I delivery tube, in combination with -means for opening one and closing another ofsuch respective passages simultaneously tothe same extent, whereby a' predetermined portion of said current may be saturated with vaporof the volatile liquid and delivered with theremainder of said current, the total volume of saidcurrent remaining constant at a constant volume ofthe gas flowing'ifrom' said ingress'means to said delivery'mean's 'to be diverted from, to enter,or to be partly diverted from and partly to enter; said vaporizing chamber.

13. Apparatus for administering vapor,

' having therein a delivery tube,'a vaporizing chamber adapted 'to contain a volatile liquid, and means ior supplying at a fixed maximum pressure, for dividing and for deliver ing a gaseous current of constant volume at 'a given' pressure in variable predetermined V proportions respectively to said delivery tube directly, and tosaid vaporizing' chamher and thence to said delivery tube, substantially as set forth.

14., Apparatus for administering vapor, having therein ingress means, vapor delivery means and means for causing the flow of a gaseous current therethrough, inicombination" with a vaporizing chamber and means havlngtherein a plurahty of passages whose apertures are simultaneously and oppositely adjustable to cause a constant volume of the gas flowing from said ingress means to said delivery; means tobe divertedirom, toenter,

or to be' partlydiverted'from and partly to enter said vaporizingchamber, substantially asset forth. I v

15; Apparatus for administering vapor, having therein ingress means, vapor delivery means 'andmeans for causing-the flow of a gaseo'uscurrent therethrough, in combina tion with a vaporizing chamberand means having therein a plurality of passages whose apertures are simultaneously and oppositely adjust-able'to-cause a constantvolumeof the gas 'flo'wingfrom said ingress means to said delivery means to be diverted from, to enter, or to be partly-diverted from and partly to eating device associated with the gas controlling means for showing the ratio of vapor, substantially as set forth.

16. Apparatus for administering vapor, having therein a delivery tube, a vaporizing chamber adapted to contain a volatile liquid, and passages for dividing and for delivering a gaseous current respectively to said delivery tube directly and to said vaporizing chamber and thence to said deliver tube, in combination with means for opening one and closing another of such respective passages simultaneously to the same extent,

given pressure, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I do now aflix my 20 signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES K. TETER.

Witnesses H. W. BELL, 'ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE. 

